After GDP figures, PM targets Manmohan Singh, other economists

MAHARAJGANJ (UP): Armed with the latest GDP figures, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today mocked the economists and made a veiled attack on his predecessor Manmohan Singh, saying “hard work” proved to be more powerful than “Harvard”.

“One year ago, our opposition used to say that our economy is going down with no development and GDP numbers are not going up,” he said addressing an election rally here.

But after demonetisation was announced on November 8 last year, “they (opposition) said ‘Modiji, we don’t understand why you took the demonetisation decision when the economy was doing well’,” the Prime Minister said.

Targeting the opposition, he said, “Chit bhi meri, pat bhi meri (Both head and tail of the coin are mine)…First, they said there was no economic development. Then, when the notes (of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denomination) were banned, they (opposition) said the economy was running smoothly and you have applied the break on it.”

While attacking the opponents of demonetisation, including the economists, Modi appeared to target Mahmohan Singh who had said that the decision will lead to a drop of at least 2 per cent in GDP. (AGENCIES)